St. Michael's Cave

Infobox Cave
name = St. Michael's Cave
photo = St Michaels cave2.jpg
caption = Uplit stalactites in St. Michael's Cave.
location = Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar
depth = 62 metres
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geology = Limestone
number of entrances = 3
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St Michael's Cave is the name given to a network of limestone caves located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve of Gibraltar, at a height of over 300 metres above sea level [http://gibraltar.costasur.com/en/stmichaels.html Costasur - St. Michael's Cave] ] . It's name is derived from a similar grotto in Monte Gargano near the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo in Apulia, Italy, where the archangel Michael is said to have appeared.

It is the most visited of the more than 150 caves found inside the Rock of Gibraltar [ [http://www.gibraltarinfo.gi/gibraltar-st-michaels-cave.aspx Gibraltar Info - St. Micael's Cave] ] , receiving almost 1,000,000 visitors a year. [http://www.duquesa.net/St_michaels_cave.htm Duquesa - St. Michael's Cave] ]

History

Creation

The cave was created by rainwater slowly seeping through the limestone rock, turning into a weak carbonic acid which gradually dissolved the rock. Through this process, tiny cracks in The Rock's geological fault grew into long passages and large caverns over thousands of years. The numerous stalactites and stalagmites in the cave are formed by an accumulation of traces of dissolved rock deposited by water dripping from the ground above.

Prehistory

In 1974 a Neolithic bowl was discovered in the cave, one of many examples which prove that the cave was known to prehistoric man. Another would be the recently discovered cave art depicting an ibex drawn in charcoal on one of the cave walls. It has been dated to the solutrean period (15,000 to 20,000 years ago) based on the style used. [ [http://www.gib.gi/museum/latest%20news.htm The Gibraltar Museum - Cave Art discovered in St. Michael's Cave] ] However, since two Neanderthal skulls have been discovered in Gibraltar, it is possible that they were among the first to set foot in the cave around 40,000 BC.

Ancient world

The first factual description of the cave was written in 45 AD by Pomponius Mela [http://www.andaluciatravelguide.com/gibraltar-stmichaelscave.html Andalucia Travel Guide - St. Michael's Cave] ] , an Algeciras born geographer. He descibed Gibraltar as:

"A mountain with wonderful concavities, which has its western side almost opened by a large cave which may be penetrated far into the interior."

However, the writings of Homer as well as artifacts discovered in the cave show that it was already well known to the ancient Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians.

19th century

During the Victorian era the cave was used as a venue for picnics, parties, concerts, weddings and even duels. The caves would be decorated for many of these events and even illuminated for distinguished visitors by soldiers who would perch on stalgmites with torches.

The first official archeological excavation of the cave was carried out in 1867 by the Goveror of the military prison, Captain Brome. He discovered numerous prehistoric artifacts such as stone axes and arrow heads, shell jewellery, bone needles as well as a large collection of pottery. Despite his archeological efforts, Brome's unauthorised use of prisoners' labour eventually cost him his job.

Officers looking for adventure during quiet times of service, would pass their time exploring the many passages witin the cave system. Sometime before 1840, Colonel Mitchell accompanied by a second officer got lost in the caves and were never seen again. Their dissapearance led to extensive explorations of the cave system in 1840, 1857 and 1865, but no evidence of the officers' whereabouts was found. Further exploration was carried out between 1936 and 1938, when a scientific expedition was mounted and every known part of the cave system was explored but again no human remains were found.

Military use

It is believed that St. Michael's Cave has had a military use since the Berber general Tariq ibn Ziyad led the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711 AD. This is assumed due to the defensive wall of Moorish origin which protected the cave's entrance until recently.

Just after Gibraltar's capture by Anglo-Dutch forces in 1704, 500 Spanish soldiers concealed themselves within the cave overnight before an unsuccessful attempt at attacking the British by surprise.

World War II

During World War II the entire cave was prepared for use as an emergency military hospital. Fortunately, it never needed to be used as such.

Lower St. Michael's Cave

In 1942, it was decided that an alternate entrance was required to improve air circulation within the emergency hospital, as well as to serve as an emergency exit incase of airstrike. Whilst blasting the rock in order to create an extra opening, another deeper system of caves known as "Lower St. Michael's Cave" (or "New St. Michael's Cave") were discovered. The series of descending chambers are riddled with almost all known cave formations, including a lake of crystal clear water.

Present day

Auditorium

The largest of the chambers, named the "Cathedral Cave", currently serves as an auditorium. It was converted due to the chamber's natural acoustic properties, which according to experts, enhances and blends tones into a uniform and faithful rendition of sound. It is equipped with a concrete stage and has a seating capacity of over 100.

It has been a regular venue for events such as dramas and son et lumière shows as well as the annual Miss Gibraltar beauty pageant. The cave is also used to hold concerts of all music genres, from operas and philharmonic orchestras to pop and rock. Notable acts who have performed in the cave include Steve Hogarth [ [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/latest_news/press_releases/2006/221-2006.pdf Government of Gibraltar Press Release - Steve Hogarth concert to take place in St. Michael's Cave] ] and Breed 77 [ [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/gov_depts/Culture/AUTUMN_FESTIVAL_PROGRAMME.pdf Gibraltar Autumn Festival of Art and Culture Programme of Events] ] .

Tourism

Nowadays the cave is one of Gibraltar's top tourist attractions and is open daily to the public receiving almost 1,000,000 visitors a year. The cave formations are colourfully lit and visitors can read displays documenting the caves' history.

St. Michael's Cave can be reached by car, taxi, cable car [ [http://www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com/st-michaels-caves-gibraltar.html Costa del Sol - St. Michael's Cave] ] or by foot. Tickets are priced at £8.00 which also includes entrance to two of the other major tourist sites on The Rock, namely the Moorish Castle and the Great Siege Tunnels.

Guided tours of "Lower St. Michael's Cave" can also be arranged through the Gibraltar Tourist Board giving a minimum of three days prior notice. The tour is priced at £8.00 and lasts approximately 3 hours. The cave is in a completely natural state, although fully lit and kitted out with ropes to aid minor climbing and scrambling. Safety helmets are provided and comfortable non-slip shoes are recommended. Group sizes range from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of around 10. Due to the tour's nature, children under the age of 10 are not allowed in.

Legend

*The "Cathedral Cave" was long thought to be bottomless, making St. Michael's Cave the subject of one of Gibraltar's most famous legends. It was believed that the cave is one end of a subterranean passage over 15 miles (24 km) long which passes under the Strait of Gibraltar. Legend has it that the Barbary Macaques entered The Rock from Morocco this way. [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/tourism/stmichaels_cave.htm Government of Gibraltar - St. Michael's Cave] ]
*As the Rock of Gibraltar was thought to be one of the legendary Pillars of Hercules, the Ancient Greeks also believed the cave be the Gates of Hades, an entrance to the underworld.Fact|date=September 2008

References

ee also

* Gorham's Cave

External links

* [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/tourism/stmichaels_cave.htm Official site]
* [http://www.gibraltarinfo.gi/gibraltar-st-michaels-cave.aspx Gibraltar Info]